Energy store method and charging method

Abstract

An electrically chargeable energy store includes a plurality of energy cells connected in series, a scanning device for the cell voltages of the energy cells, and a processing device for determining a setpoint charging current through the energy cells based on the scanned cell voltages. The processing device is equipped to determine the setpoint charging current as a function of differences between the scanned cell voltages. A method for charging an electrically chargeable energy store includes steps of scanning of the cell voltages of the energy cells, determining a setpoint charging current through the energy cells based on the differences of the scanned cell voltages, and limiting of a charging current flowing through the energy cells to the determined setpoint charging current.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to an energy store and a charging method.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]An electric battery includes a number of electric energy cells which are connected to one another in series. To charge the battery, a predetermined charging current is led through the energy cells. During the course of the charging process, the cell voltages of the energy cells in each case approach a predetermined maximum cell voltage. Some batteries may react sensitively to a charging error, such as overcharging. Lithium ion batteries may burst, for example, which may be accompanied by an explosion or a fire.[0005]In order to avoid a charging error and to end the charging process in time, it is customary to switch off the charging current when one of the energy cells has reached the maximum cell voltage assigned to it. In this context, however, the state of charge of other cells, whose cell voltages are belo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a method for charging an electrically chargeable energy store, which includes a plurality of energy cells connected in series. The method includes steps of scanning the cell voltages of the energy cells, determining a setpoint charging current through the energy cells based on the differences of the scanned cell voltages, and limiting the charging current flowing through the energy cells to the determined setpoint charging current. The setpoint charging current may be determined based on at least one of the highest scanned cell voltage, the highest maximum cell voltage of one of the energy cells, and a ratio of cell voltages. The method may be executed on the processing device of the energy store or a further processing device in the area of the charging device or the adapter described. The technical effect of the invention is to maximize the charging of the energy store by fully charging the cells as independently as possible of their individual load-carrying capacity, while avoiding charging errors that may occur due to exceeding the temperature of the energy store.

Problems solved by technology

Some batteries may react sensitively to a charging error, such as overcharging.

Lithium ion batteries may burst, for example, which may be accompanied by an explosion or a fire.

In this context, however, the state of charge of other cells, whose cell voltages are below the respectively specified maximum cell voltages, may not yet have reached a maximum state of charge, so that on an overall basis, the battery is only partially charged.

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